Mop-head



MOP-HEAD Filed April 10, 1956 P152 P1523 F1134 44 V INVENTOR; THOMAS W HEALY A'TTDRNEY United States Patent C MOP-HEAD Thomas W. Healy, Rochester, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Joseph S. Caccamise, Rochester, N. Y.

Application April 10, 1956, Serial No. 577,383

Claims. (Cl. 15-153) This invention relates to an improvement in mop-head constructions.

The present invention is directed to a mop-head construction in which the parts are readily assembled and disassembled, easily fabricated and of a rugged and serviceable design adapted to be free from breakage and jamming in use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mop-head construction in which the parts are few, and of rugged design, and in which, on assembly, all parts including the handle stick may be drawn tight upon the clamping of a mop element therein for use.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being bad for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indi-- cate like parts:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the mop-head;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the broken line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view with part broken away, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top perspective view of the handle sleeve;

Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the sleeve; and

Figure 8 is a partial fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 2.

In Figure 1, there is shown the mop-head comprising a yoke 20 in the form of a stiff wire frame, such frame having a transverse stiff, straight section 22, adapted to cooperate with a jaw member 24 to clamp a mop element (not shown). The frame is symmetrical, and comprises integral side arm portions 26 and 28 extending at right angles to the portion 22, and inclined inwardly extending shoulder portions 30 and 32. The ends 34 and 36 of the frame extend substantially parallel but are spaced apart the approximate diameter of the handle stick 38, and have sinuous outwardly extending loops 40 and 42 intermediate of their length.

A handle sleeve 44, of generally oval cross section, has a cylindrical bore 46 extending thereinto from the top to receive the handle 38. The bore terminates short of the lower end, in a transverse integral head 48. The head has a slot 50 extending there across along the major axis of the oval section of the sleeve. The slot is of a width slightly greater than the frame wire diameter to receive the ends 34 and 36 of the frame 20, and has an enlarged square section central portion 52, adapted to receive the squared under head shank portion 54 of a carriage type bolt 56.

on the on the f. lC

As shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that the head58 of the bolt 56 is of a diameter slightly less than the handle bore, and may rest on the head 48, or bear against the inner end of the handle 38. The handle is secured in place by a transverse round head screw 60, which may extend through a transverse aperture in the handle, and be threaded into a threaded boss 62.

The inside opposite walls of the sleeve are grooved lengthwise on opposite sides, as at 64 and 66, to receive the frame ends 34 and 36, and slots 68 and 70 are provided in connection with the grooves to receive the sinuous portions 40 and 42 of the frame ends, which may in practice protrude somewhat beyond the sleeve, inthe manner indicated in Figures 1 and 3.

The jaw 24 is provided with forked ends 72 and 74 which are adapted to freely slide on the arms 26 and 28 such forked ends being reinforced as indicated at 76 and 78. The lower face of the jaw is provided with teeth 80 adapted to grip a standard mop element formed of cotton wicking, rags or the like (not shown). The jaw has a central cylindrical enlargement 82, having a central bore 84 into which the threaded end of the bolt 56 extends. A window 86 is provided in which a peripherally notched thumb nut 88 is positioned.

The grooves 64 and 66, and apertures or slots 68 and 70, are shaped as shown in Figure 8 to conform closely to the outer sinuous configuration of the ends 34 and 36 of the frame, so that when in position, such members will nest snugly in place.

It will be seen that the parts can readily be assembled and completely disassembled for any purpose such as cleaning, handle replacement or the like. Assembly is effected by spreading the arms of the frame slightly adja cent the shoulders 30 and 32 to allow insertion of the forked ends of the jaw. Thereafter the end portions can be sprung together, with the jaw moved toward the straight section 22, and the ends inserted through the slot 50 in the head end 48 of the sleeve 44, and the sleeve slid over the ends. Thereafter the loops are allowed to expand into the grooves 64 and 66 with the sinuous portions projecting through the slots 68 and 70 as shown in Figure l. The bolt 56 is then inserted into the sleeve and extended into the jaw bore 84 while the peripherally notched nut is being threaded thereon. Finally the handle is inserted, and the screw 60 placed.

Upon thrusting the jaw towards the frame end section 22, to clamp the mop element securely in place, the head of the bolt thrusts against the end of the handle, thereby drawing the handle tight in the socket, against the screw 60. To remove the mop element, reverse rotation of the notched nut 88 draws the jaw away from the frame end 22 to effect release of the mop element.

The sleeve element may be cast or otherwise formed,

preferably of one piece. For long use, the bolt 56 may be of brass, and the thread thereof may be so as to provide a maximum of thrust of the jaw, with small turning effort of the nut. While the jaw may be cast of aluminum, or other metal as indicated, such jaw may be formed of like stampings secured together back to back as by rivets or spot welding, as will appear to those skilled in the art.

It will be seen that the structure when assembled is readily adjusted to securely hold the mop element or quickly release the same, and when the mop element is securely held, all other parts are drawn tight, since the clamping force tends to thrust the wire frame in the oppo- I site direction from the handle, with the result that the sinuous loops tend to cam in the grooves and slots to force the frame ends inwardly against the handle stick.

the handle stick thereafter withdrawn, followingwhich the boltcan be removed through the open sleeve end. In practice a cross pin might be employed in place of screw 60, since when pressure is applied, it is held tight.

All of the parts are so designed astobe rugged and easily formed, and the entire constructionis one which may be expected to withstand hard usage, The frame, with itsrounded corners, whcnthemop element is in place is suchas torprevent marring of baseboardgfurniture and the like.

While a single embodiment of the'invention has been illustrated and, described, .it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the constructionand arrangement may be made without departing fromrthe spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention. i

What is claimed is:

,1. A mop head comprising a wire frame having a stiff straight section adapted to cooperate with a mop element clamping jaw, said frame having parallel side arms, and inwardly extending end portions terminating in substantially parallel extending ends having outwardly extending sinuous camming portions intermediate the length of said ends, a one piece sleeve having a bore adapted to receive a handle, said bore terminating short of one end thereof to provide an integral transverse head at one end of the sleeve, said sleeve having lengthwise extending, grooves internally thereof on opposite sides there of of a depth to receive and in which said ends lie in flush relation to said bore, said grooves having slots extending through the wall of said sleeve intermediate their length into which said outwardly extending sinuous portions project said ends and camming portions and slots acting to urge said ends toward one another upon relative axial movement between the sleeve and ends to grip a handle in the socket, and said sleevehead having a transverse slot extending to the depth of said opposite grooves, said head slot having an enlarged polygonal central opening, a jaw having forked ends straddling said side arms, and adapted to'be slidably moved toward and away from said straight section, said jaw having a central bore and a nut receiving window extending transversely thereof, a bolt extending through said head slot, having a head adapted to engage the inside surface of said sleeve head, said bolt having a short polygonal section ad acent said head disposed in said polygonal central opening, and a threadcd shank extending into said jaw bore beyond said window, and a nut threaded on said bolt and disposed in said window.

2. A mop-head comprising a wire frame having a stiff straight section adapted to cooperate with a mop element clamping jaw, said frame having parallel side arms, and inwardly extending end portions terminating in substantially parallel extending ends, said ends having outwardly extending camming projections intermediate the length of said ends, a one piece sleeve having a bore adapted to receive a handle, said bore terminating short of one end thereof to provide an integral transverse head at one end of the sleeve, said sleeve having lengthwise extending grooves internally thereof on opposite sides thereof of a depth to receive and in which said ends lie in flush relationto said bore, said grooves having slots extending into the outer wall of said sleeve intermediate their length to receive said projections said ends and projections and slots acting to urge said ends toward. one another upon relative axial movement between the ends and sleeve to grip a handle in the socket and said sleeve head having a transverse slot extending from the depth of said opposite grooves, a jaw having forked ends straddling said side arms, and adapted to be slidably moved toward and away from said straight section, said jaw having a central bore and a nut receiving window extending transversely thereof, a bolt extending through said slot, having a head adapted to engage the inside surface of said sleeve i 4 head, means for keying said bolt against rotation relative to said sleeve, and a threaded shank extending into said jaw bore beyond said window, and a nut threaded on said bolt and disposed in said window.

3. A mop-head comprising a wire frame having a stiff mop element engaging section, said frame having parallel side arms, and inwardly extending end portions terminating in substantially parallel extending ends having locking and camming extensions intermediate thereof, a one piece sleeve, having a bore adapted to receive a handle, said bore terminating short of one end thereof to provide a transverse head at one end of the sleeve, said sleeve having lengthwise extending grooves internally thereof on opposite sides thereof of a depth to substantially conform with and receive said ends and extensions with the ends lying in flush relation to said bore, said ends and extensions and conforming grooves acting to urge said ends toward one another to grip a handle in the sleeve upon relative axial movement between the ends and sleeve said sleeve head having a transverse slot extending from the depth of said opposite grooves and through which said ends extend, a jaw having forked ends straddling said side arms, and adapted to be slidably moved toward and away from said mop element section, said jaw having a central bore and a nut receiving window extending transversely thereof, a bolt extending through said head slot, and into said jaw bore beyond said window, and a nut threaded on said bolt and disposed in said window.

4. A mop-head comprising a wire frame having a stiff mop engaging section, said frame having parallel side arms, and inwardly extending end portions terminating in substantially parallel extending ends having locking and camming extensions intermediate thereof, a one piece sleeve having a bore adapted to receive a handle, said bore terminating short of one end thereof to provide a transverse head at one end of the sleeve, said sleeve having lengthwise extending grooves internally thereof on opposite sides thereof of a depth to substantially conform with and receive said ends and extensions with the ends lying in flush relation to said bore, said sleeve head having a transverse slot extending from the depth of said opposite grooves and through which said ends extend, a jaw having forked ends straddling said side arms, and adapted to be slidably moved toward and away from said mop element section, said jaw having a central bore, a bolt extending through said head slot, into said jaw bore, and a nut threaded on said bolt and adapted to thrust said jaw toward said mop engaging section and a handle secured in said sleeve having an end adapted to engage an end of said bolt said ends, extensions and conforming grooves acting to urge said end into engagement with said handle, on relative axial movement between the ends and sleeve.

5. A mop-head comprising a wire frame having a stiff mop engaging section, said frame having parallel side arms, and inwardly extending end portions terminating in substantially parallel extending ends having locking and camming extensions intermediate thereof, a one piece sleeve having a bore adapted to receive a handle, said bore terminating short of one end thereof to provide a transverse head at one end of the sleeve, said sleeve having lengthwise extending grooves internally thereof on opposite sides thereof of a depth tosubstantially conform with and receive said ends and extensions with the ends lying in flush relation to said bore, said sleeve head having a transverse slot extending from the depth of said opposite grooves and through which said ends extend, a jaw having forked ends straddling said side arms, and adapted to be slidably moved toward and away from said mop element section, said jaw having a central bore, a bolt extending through said head slot, into said jaw bore, and a nut threaded on said bolt and adapted to thrust said jaw toward said mop engaging section, a handle secured in said sleeve having an end adapted to said handle, on relative axial movement between the ends and sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lockhart Sept. 23, Feth Nov. 27, Smith July 31, Healy July 11,

Kautenberg Mar. 1, 

